Page 121 of Hidden Nature

Jim Blakley, Sloan remembered. One of the stars of the Heron’s Rest High School football team.

“You look wonderful,” Sloan told her. Easy to say, as it was absolutely true.

“Oh, I’m starting to waddle like a platypus, but it’s worth it. But you.”

Diane gripped her hand, and Sloan felt the genuine warmth. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you, how good it is to see you looking just absolutely terrific. I hope you feel the same.”

“I do. I appreciate the card you and Jim sent when I was laid up.”

As she spoke, Sloan started unloading her cart.

“Hannah—you remember Hannah Otts—she said she saw you out on the lake not long ago. And in your uniform. I’m so happy you moved back to the Rest and you’re working again.”

“So am I.”

“And you bought a house! I’m glad somebody who knows what to do bought that place. I don’t know what the Johnsons were thinking. They hardly ever came up here to use it, then trying to make it a vacation rental without sprucing it up. You’ll spruce it right.”

“That’s the plan.”

“You always had one. We were all so shocked about what happened. I won’t dwell on it because I know you won’t want to.”

Sloan paused, felt that warmth again. “You were always a good friend, Diane.”

“I try to be. And with the baby coming, I’m trying to—I know it sounds New Agey or something—but I’m trying to bring in the light.”

“It sounds like somebody’s going to be a great mom.”

Diane’s dark, expressive eyes teared up a little. But she managed a laugh. “That’s the plan. It’s hard when there’s just so much, well, dark out there. It can be such a mean world,” she said as she set down the separator and started putting her items on the belt.

“What happened to you, and I don’t know if you heard about Sarah Glenn’s cousin Zach. You might’ve met Zach a million years back. His family used to come to the lake for a week every summer. They always rented Serenity—that’s one of your family’s rentals.”

“I remember Sarah. I’m not sure about her cousin.”

“He’s had a rough time. His wife left him, got custody of their little boy. Broke Zach’s heart, and his spirit. He actually tried to kill himself last year.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“He was doing so much better, Sarah told me. Then a couple weeks ago, he just walked away.”

As Sloan set the Cheetos on the belt, she paused. “Walked away?”

“It looks like he did just that. Got off work—he’s a bellman at a hotel in Uniontown—and left. Didn’t even take his car.”

The back of Sloan’s neck prickled.

“He left his car? Where?”

“Right there in the hotel lot. Clocked out of work, then just walked away, I guess. Not a word to his family since.”

Sloan heard the cashier give her the total, and fumbled for her wallet as she focused on Diane.

“They reported him missing?”

“Oh, sure. His family’s beside themselves, worried they’ll get word he tried again, you know?”

“Zach Glenn?”

“No, no, it’s Tarrington. Sarah’s mom’s sister’s son. Sarah and I—oh, and Hallie Reeder—get together, for sure once a month, on book club night. You should join our group, Sloan. We have a lot of fun.”

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